Essendon Football Club will honour premiership player Darryl Gerlach on Monday night when he is inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame.

Darryl Gerlach made an outstanding contribution to the Essendon Football Club over a period spanning 35 years.

He was a local boy who arrived at Essendon Football Club in 1963 from Strathmore.

He quickly found his niche as a back pocket player where over 168 games in 10 seasons, he went on to play his best football. By the late 1960s Darryl Gerlach he was the best back pocket player in the League.

He was in the back pocket in Essendon's 1965 premiership side and was runner-up in Essendon's best and fairest award in 1966 and then won the award in 1970.

After four years away, Darryl Gerlach returned to Windy Hill in 1977 as a zone recruiter beginning another two decades of service.
He served the club in roles as varied as recruiting, match committee, football operations, drafting and list management, finance and auditing. He was also club vice president for 12 years.

The 2013 Season Launch and Hall of Fame Induction will be held on March 4 at Peninsula, Central Pier Docklands from 6.30pm. Tickets are still available for Essendon’s major event of the year.